May 21st Weapons, ECM, BAP Tweaks and MOAR!

From: Link

Machine Guns
MGs are getting their damage doubled to 0.08/shell.
MG range is going to be 120m and they will fall off to 0 damage at 240m.
MG Spread will remain unchanged for the moment.

LB10-X has had it's cone of fire reduced by 20%, giving it a bit more focused punch through it's travel space.

LRM speed will be increasing from 100m/s to 120m/s. This equates to about 5-10% more missiles hitting a moving target and it's quite a bit harder to dodge LRMs.

AC/5
After reading my last post, I think I was smoking something other than a cigarette when I said AC/5 damage would be changing. AC/5 damage is NOT changing. Their range however is increasing from 540m out to 620m.

NARC is going to have its firing distance increased as well as it's duration. This is still undergoing testing and will have numbers for you when they're ready.

BAP
Now here's the biggie. BAP is meant to increase your sensor range by amplifying your sensor systems. It allows you to get detail targeting information faster and also allows you to detect nearby shutdown Mechs. Yeah? So?... well...

BAP will now negate ECM within 150m (tuning number) of the enemy. Negate? What 'chu talkin' 'bout Paul?

If Mech X has BAP, and Mech Y has ECM, and Mech X gets within 150m or less of Mech Y, Mech Y loses all effects of ECM. It is a 100% counter to ECM. Mech Y is now vulnerable to LRMs/S-SRMs as long as Mech X stays within 150m. Any friendly Mechs to Mech Y will no longer be shielded until Mech X leaves the 150m area around Mech Y.

ECM is now a long range Mech item. A scout can now use it to remain hidden from LRMs while performing their job. A LRM/command Atlas can rain down death while maintaining LoS on their distant targets without worries of LRMs coming back at them.

ECM is now getting a dedicated hardpoint that works just like AMS. It will be located in a dedicated component such as the right or left torso.

ECM will also no longer mess with friendly IDF markings so you always know who's friend and foe.

Missile Update:
Missiles are coming along. A lot of stuff has been rewritten and we have to test and retune numbers to get them ready to be released back into the live game. So far LRM's are looking really good and SRM's are soon to be addressed as well. As of this writing we're putting the final numbers on LRMs so they'll be ready for large scale testing very soon.

 

Damn it Cattra, if you are going to be posting stuff like this we need to get you access to post in the News section Apparently when I try and blend your News post and bring it in line with other ones it nukes the entire threnad.

YAY!

Anyways: all this looks good. h34r:

 

I am liking what I am reading here. Now Is this a dream patch list? It's too good to believe. If they said something about bug fixes I would probably faint.

 

If it turns out to be true, I am excited about the changes to ECM and BAP. ECM will still be able to function well for the scout community and the haters out there will have their much needed counter.

 

MGs: I wonder if they're nerfing MG crits a bit to compensate, or if they'll stay where they are. Might need to repurchase my SDR-5K.

LRMs: I wonder if they plan to address the OMG-CENTER-TORSO (read like a dog going SQUIRRELL!!!!!) that they do.

LB-10: Interesting...

AC/5: Range increase will help, but it's still a middle-of-the-road weapon.

NARC Needed a buff, I wonder if the ECM nerf will help.

BAP/ECM: Dear lord, we all need BAP now. It will help snipers find their targets, brawlers will help the group by getting in close and negating ECM, and LRM boats will need it to prevent an ECM light from neutering their damage. It's almost like they're giving everyone Counter ECM.

I did notice there was very little to address Sniper Online in the balance.

 

I would have liked something to counter sniping as well. This patch seems to be actually encouraging MORE sniping, if anything. Some of the RVN-3Ls will disappear, which is a good thing, if you ask me. StreakCats will reappear, now with BAP. But nothing really will change about the PPC sniping.

But all in all, it looks like a good step forward. At least ECM will take some skill and forethought to be useful, instead of being an automatic advantage and Streak-Killer. And LRMs might make a little comeback, which is nice. I've been missing them. I never USE them myself, but the game lacks variation without them.

I'm definitely happy with these changes overall.

 

It's interesting. I asked a little bit ago what to do to fit AMS. Now the question will be what to do to fit BAP.

 

I can't count the number of times people have asked me why I kept BAP in my Light 'mechs. Now we have the answer and I'll have to go back to some of my older builds to refit the Probe.

I am going to have to refit most of my Medium 'mechs now that things are changing as well.

Myth.

 

I personally think that the BAP Cancellation range should be either 120m or 140m - that way a skilled ECM light can still -try- to keep someone bubbled by staying in that 20-40m overlap, but ensures that it will take said skill to make it happen. Running around their feet and shootin' their backs is out of the question from here on.

Other than that, I like all of the changes. Means I get to step up my Raven game. Happy happy.

HOWEVER! Curious how having BAP AND ECM on my Raven is gonna work out. ;

 

Myth, I agree with the people asking you - before now (and heck, before the 21st) there really wasn't much benefit, especially because ECM completely nullified it. With the roles reversed, I think more people are going to be asking "why did you bother with the Raven? The Jenner has JJs!"

Aedon, I'm pretty sure the ECM bubble is 180m, but SSRMs work out to 270. So the deadzone if you have ECM is 150-180m to keep the enemy in your bubble and 150-270 to prevent streaks.

 

It is 180m, but I feel that 30m difference is too small - if only slightly. 40m I feel is more comfortable, given the speeds of lights. Now, 10m may seem like a nitpick to a lot of folks, and I'll own that, but that's just where my gut tells me is good.

 

You will cancel your own ECM, and be killed instantly by your own SSRM's. Then the server will implode! :tongue:

--Netherkat.

 

They are doing everything that everyone thought needed to be done with ECM. I could live with it and deal with it as it is now, however, I am glad that BAP has a real use now. We now have ECM and ECCM so besides a little tweaking here and there down the road I am considering e-war done after these changes.

The reappearance of BAP equipped Streakapaults is going to have interesting results in PPC Sniper On-line.

 

All I know is this: I already have effective 'mechs in every weight class (Except Assault)that have BAP installed. There will be no tweaking or figuring involved and that is why I designed them that way originally.

Myth

 

Couldn't have said it better!

 

Im preparing my A1 tonight... rofl

 

Yes, but your raven can sit at 250m, and while you won't be blocking the enemy from using LRMs, your ECM will still prevent it from being able to lock onto you with SSRMs.

 

Now THAT is what I'm talkin' 'bout!
Finally, I will be able to utilize BAP on my builds, and LRMS will soon be getting ramped back up to a streamlined dangerous weapon. So, BAP and AMS will be finding its way into many of my builds soon.

 

Great lookin' changes.

But missiles are moving even faster now + they will have more damage. Nothing has changed about AMS. It was only able to shoot down a couple of the incoming missiles; that number will probably go even more down.

 

I like all of this.

I do belive that a Raven 3L or anything fast with BAP/ECM will be a great counter to snipers if used in conjunction with friendly LRM Boats. Maybe they wont be able to stay for long but a quick run through with tag on the big bad sniper and friendly LRMs can rain down hell while the brawlers advance. At least this is what I see happening.

The LBX tightening further is great! Ill probably pull the old LBX DDC back out agian